Store-goods lifter



y w I Aug. 22, 1939.

G. A. TORVIK STORE-GOODS LIFTER Filed March 11, 1938 all u Patented Aug. 22 1939 warren 5mm PATENT OFFICE STORE-GOODS LIFTER Gustav Adolf Torvik, Bagley, Minn.

Application March 11,

3 Claims.

This invention relatesto an improved storegoods lifter or handling device adapted for use in taking down cans and packages from high shelves and placing them on such shelves.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a. device of the above kind which is extremely efficient in use, "durable and compact in construction, and comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The present invention consists, of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a store-goods lifter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the upper end portion of the device shown in Figure 1, looking toward the right of the latter figure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a modified form of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present invention contemplates the provision of gripping means especially adapted for efficient clamping engagement with the upstanding annular bead 5 usually provided around the upper ends of the cans of canned goods, by reason of the rolled joint between the upper end of the can body 6 and the top wall I of the can, as shown clearly in Figure 3.

The present lifter or handling device consists of an elongated handle or pole 8 having a laterally projecting fixed gripping jaw 9 rigidly mounted at one side of the upper end thereof, a movable gripping jaw l0 being mounted on the upper end of the handle or pole 8 and arranged to move downwardly and inwardly toward the fixed jaw 9 so as to cooperate with the latter for gripping the bead 5 therebetween. The fixed jaw 9' is arranged to engage directly beneath the bead 5, and the jaw I0 is arranged to swing downwardly and inwardly into engagement with the bead 5 at the inner side of the latter. With the movable jaw l0 firmly held in clamping position, the can will be firmly held so as to be safely lifted or lowered to or from the elevated shelf, manually operable means being provided for moving the movable gripping jaw [0 into gripping position and for holding the same in the latter position, such as a flexible member or cable ll connected at one end to the movable jaw l0 intermediate the ends of 1938, Serial No. 195,377

the latter and extending rearwardly and downwardly through the handle or pole 8 at the upper end of the latter, as indicated at 12. The flexible member or cable II is attached at its lower end to the intermediate portion of a suitable lever I3 hinged at its upper end as at I4 to the lower porticn of the handle or pole 8 and adapted to be swung downwardly and inwardly to move the movable jaw It to gripping position.

While the movable jaw H] may be directly mounted on the handle or pole B, and while the pole 8 may be either metallic or wooden con-- struction, I have illustrated'a special and efficient mounting for the jaws 9 and Ill on a pole of wooden form. As shown, a metallic band or ferrule 55 is tightly fitted and secured 'on' the upper end of handle or pole '8 andhas one end of the movable jaw ID pivoted thereto as at IS, the movable jaw extending across the upper end of the handle or pole 8 and having a depending free end I! cooperating with the jaw 9. Also, the fixed jaw 9 is shown as secured to one side of the ferrule or band 15, and a suitable spring 18 is provided for normally moving the movable jaw It] to released position. Any type of spring may be 25 used, or the movable jaw may be of resilient form normally tensioned to occupy an inoperative position, instead of being pivoted. In this embodiment, both jaws may be readily assembled to the ferrule, after which the latter may be applied to 30 the upper end of the handle or pole and secured thereto by screws H! which may also be utilized to securely fasten the jaws to the ferrule l5 as shown clearly in Figure 3. The spring I8 as shown consists of a leaf spring attached at one 35 end to the movable jaw l0 and bearing at its upper end against the upper end of the handle or pole.

In the modified form of Figure 4, the movable jaw Illa; is straight and pivoted at its upper end to one side of the ferrule I5a as at l6a, the lower end portion of the movable jaw l0 being arranged for cooperation with the fixed jaw 9a attached as at I 9a to a side of the upper end portion of the pole 8a. beneath the ferrule l5a. A flexible member or cable Ha is attached to the movable jaw Illa and extends downwardly and rearwardly through the upper end of the pole 8a as at l2a. Of course, the flexible member or cable Ila will be connected at its lower end to a lever similar to lever l3 in Figure 1, and a suitable spring l8a is provided for normally swinging the movable jaw Illa to an outward inoperative or released position. In both forms of the invention, it will be seen that the movable jaw is swung downwardly and inwardly toward the fixed jaw for gripping engagement with the can.

A spike 20 may be attached to one side of the upper end portion of the handle or pole in either form for use in removing from elevated shelves or placing on such shelves, store-goods packed in paper packages or cartons. The spike is arranged to extend upwardly and outwardly for convenient use in penetrating the paper carton or package and impaling the package thereon for proper handling of the latter.

In use, the handling of canned goods is accomplished by engaging the fixed jaw 9 beneath the bead 5, and then swinging the lever 13 downwardly and inwardly so as to move the movable jaw into engagement with the inner side of bead 5. The movable jaw is firmly held in gripping position by holding the lever E3 in its downwardly and inwardly swung position, and with the can firmly gripped in this way it may be readily and safely handled for the stated purpose,

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be apparent that the invention is susceptible of various changes in the specific details of construction illustrated and described, and such changes are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A store-goods lifter comprising an elongated handle, a broad fixed jaw rigidly secured to one side of the upper end portion of said handle and projecting laterally from the latter for engagement beneath the bead around the upper end of a can of canned goods, a broad movable jaw car ried by the upper end of the handle and arranged to move downwardly and inwardly into engagement with the inner side of said head, and manually operable means for actuating said movable jaw from a point near the lower portion of the handle.

2. A store-goods lifter comprising an elongated wooden handle, a ferrule secured on the upper end of said handle, a broad fixed jaw rigidly secured to one side of said ferrule and projecting laterally therefrom for engagement beneath the bead around the upper end of a can of canned goods, a movable jaw pivoted to the upper end of said ferrule and extending transversely of the handle for movement downwardly and inwardly toward said fixed jaw for gripping engagement with the inner side of said bead, yieldable means acting to normally move said movable jaw upwardly to an inoperative position away from said fixed jaw, and means manually operable from a point adjacent'the lower end of the handle for moving said movable jaw into gripping position.

3. A store-goods lifter comprising an elongated wooden handle, a ferrule secured on the upper end of said handle, said handle having a transversely extending opening through the upper end portion thereof below said ferrule, a gripping jaw pivoted to one side of said ferrule and depending therefrom, a laterally projecting fixed jaw secured to one side of the handle below said pivoted jaw, and a flexible actuating member for the movable jaw attached to the latter and extending rearwardly through said opening in the handle.

GUSTAV ADOLF TORV'IK. 

